Preparation and characterization of Er³⁺/Yb³⁺ co-doped Na₂O–Nb₂O₅–SiO₂ transparent glass-ceramics

Abstract

Er³⁺/Yb³⁺ co-doped transparent niobosilicate glass-ceramics with main crystalline phase NaNbO₃ were prepared by crystallization of glass. The heat treatment temperature, crystalline phase composition, microstructure, optical transmittance and up conversion luminescence of the samples were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Ultraviolet-Visible-Near Infrared spectrophotometer and fluorescence spectrometer. The results show that the optimum crystallization temperature is 700°C, the optimal heat treatment time is 2 h and the transmittance of the sample in the near infrared region at 850 nm is up to 79% under the condition of Yb³⁺/Er³⁺ molar ratio of 7.5:1. The influence of different Yb³⁺/ Er³⁺ doping concentration on the luminescent properties of glass-ceramics and the up-conversion luminescence mechanism was discussed. It was found that the luminescence intensity was the highest when the Yb³⁺/Er³⁺ doping molar ratio was 7.5:1.